NEW LEXICAL UNITS FORMED THROUGH AFFIXATION IN THE DRAMAS OF GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

Abstract

This article examines the role of affixation as a productive mechanism for the creation of new lexical units in the dramas of Bernard Shaw. The study focuses on how derivational and, to a lesser extent, inflectional affixes contribute to morphological innovation and stylistic expressiveness in Shaw’s dramatic language. Using a qualitative linguistic analysis, newly formed words created through prefixes and suffixes are identified and classified according to their structural and semantic features. The findings demonstrate that Shaw actively employs affixation to convey social criticism, characterize speakers, and reflect ideological and cultural nuances of his time. The article argues that affixational word-formation in Shaw’s plays serves not only a nominative function but also a significant stylistic and pragmatic role, enhancing the expressive potential of dramatic discourse.